Athene at a Glance: Rates, Products and Reviews

Compare Current Athene Annuity Rates

Ratings and Reviews

Despite its relative youth, Athene holds strong financial strength and credit ratings from all major rating agencies, including a financial strength score of A from AM Best.

This can appeal to customers who may have been turned off from opting for an Athene annuity due to their youth. Although it may not be a legacy provider with a decades-long history, it is generally rated like one.

Athene’s Credit Ratings

Rating Company	Credit Rating
AM Best	A+
Fitch	A+
S&P	A+

Athene has a mixed reputation for customer satisfaction. The company has a solid NAIC Complaint Index Score of 0.51, meaning there are fewer customer complaints than expected, given its market presence.

However, Athene ranked poorly in the J.D. Power Overall Customer Satisfaction Index in 2024 and 2025. The provider ranked below the industry average in both years, well behind competitors like Allianz and MassMutual.

“Athene is difficult to get on the phone,” Federal Retirement Advisor Ken Orenstein told Annuity.org. “I just do not like working with [this] carrier. And ironically, this is an extremely popular carrier.”

The NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners) tracks the consumer complaints each state’s insurance commission receives yearly. These are used to compile a company’s NAIC Complaint Index.

Athene is a standout among annuity companies based on the diversity of its products, appealing to investors looking for investment opportunities or immediate income. With a strong A+ rating from the rating agencies and the deep financial resources of its parent, Apollo Global, Athene is a compelling choice for investors looking for more asset or income protection.

Stephen Kates, CFP®Principal Financial Analyst for Annuity.org

Stephen Kates, CFP® is a personal finance expert specializing in financial planning and education. He serves as the Principal Financial Analyst for Annuity.org, where he delves into industry trends to support consumers and financial advisors on wealth management, annuities, retirement planning, and investing.

NAIC Complaint Index for Athene

All Policy Types	0.08
Individual Annuities Only	0.51

Products Offered by Athene

One place where Athene stands out from competitors is in the sheer volume of annuity options available. Many providers focus on one or two base annuity types while offering a couple of variations.

Across all categories, Athene offers more than 10 unique products. 

Fixed Index Annuities

Most of Athene’s offerings are fixed index annuities, with six base products and a few variations available.

Athene’s Fixed Index Annuities

Annuity	Its Purpose According to Athene
AccuMax	“Retire with confidence”
Accumulator	“Save more with great rates and lower potential risk”
Agility	“Flexibility and security to reach your retirement dream’
Ascent Pro	“Income that lasts”
Performance Elite	“Make your money work for the long term”
Protector	“Peace of mind for the journey ahead”

AccuMax

Athene does a good job of breaking down its available annuities based on their specific goals and benefits for potential customers. The base version — AccuMax — is available for one, five or seven years.

These annuities generally offer the choice between a fixed or indexed strategy and guarantee that your interest earned never falls below 0%.

The Accumulator

Each product offers unique benefits. The Accumulator, for example, includes a bailout feature, which allows you to access your full accumulated value for 30 days in some situations.

“Another great feature of Athene annuities is the liquidity that they have,” Ryan Cicchelli, owner of The Safe Investing Expert, told Annuity.org. “I think they’re probably one of the highest liquidity annuities in the country.”

The Agility and Ascent Pro

The Agility includes access to an income benefit rider, while the Ascent Pro offers a rider to convert a portion of your contract’s value into a guaranteed income stream. Both are available in terms of seven or 10 years.

Performance Elite

Meanwhile, the longest term available is 15 years and is accessible through the Performance Elite. This annuity allows for automatic diversification across indexes and can be rebalanced each year.

Protector

Athene’s final fixed index annuity is the Protector, a secure product with additional safeguards.

Who Athena’s Fixed Index Annuities Work Best For

Imagine six different retirees, each with slightly different priorities.

1. AccuMax
Dennis, 63, wants a flexible FIA he can start in one, five, or seven years. AccuMax offers fixed or indexed crediting with a 0% floor, letting him shift approaches as his needs evolve.

2. The Accumulator
Cheryl, 65, values liquidity and wants an emergency exit. The Athene Accumulator includes a bailout feature letting her access the full accumulated value for 30 days in qualifying situations — among the highest-liquidity FIAs available.

3. Agility
Marcus, 59, wants a seven- or ten-year FIA with an income rider he can activate later. Agility includes an income benefit rider that can convert part of his contract into guaranteed income on his timeline.

4. Ascent Pro
Nora, 66, needs reliable income she cannot outlive. Ascent Pro offers a rider to convert part of the contract into a guaranteed income stream, available in seven- or ten-year terms.

5. Performance Elite
Harold, 54, has a long horizon and wants automatic diversification. Performance Elite is Athene’s longest-term FIA (up to 15 years) with automatic diversification across indexes and annual rebalancing.

6. Protector
Gloria, 70, prioritizes safety over growth. The Athene Protector is the company’s security-focused FIA, built with additional protective features for retirees who put preservation of principal first.

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Registered Index-Linked Annuities

Athene offers one base RILA that is available in two different forms.

This product is the Amplify 2.0 and is available in six-year terms. Athene also offers different periods within that term, where your protection level can be reset and you can realize earnings.

Amplify 2.0 Term Periods

• One Year
• Two Years
• Six Years

The Amplify 2.0 includes different buffer level options — capping your earnings in both directions to protect from market downturns — and offers five index options.

Additionally, a no-fee version known as Amplify 2.0 NF is available.

Fixed Annuities

Athene offers access to two different fixed annuities. 

Athene MYG

Its base product is the Athene MYG, which is available for three, five or seven years. It includes standard industry-wide features, such as waivers for nursing home confinement or terminal illness and the ability to withdraw 10% of the contract penalty-free after a year.

Athene MYG is also available with a Return of Premium option that allows you to surrender at any point during the withdrawal charge period and get back all your premiums with no penalty. The tradeoff to this option is lower rates on your annuity.

The third MYG policy is called Athene MYG Assure, which provides a guaranteed rate of interest, regardless of market conditions. 

Another great feature of Athene annuities is the liquidity that they have. I think they’re probably one of the highest liquidity annuities in the country.

Ryan CicchelliOwner of The Safe Investing Expert

Athene MaxRate

Another option to consider is the Athene MaxRate. It’s available for three, five or seven years, has a slightly higher minimum than Athene MYG, and allows you to focus your annuity on growth, income, or both.

Immediate Annuities

On top of its wide range of fixed and indexed options, Athene also offers access to immediate annuities.

Immediate annuities are simple products, but the Athene SPIA, called Athene Activate, offers a solid range of payout options.

This includes guaranteed lifetime payments and several terms in which the annuity pays out for life or for the length of the term.

Also available is a regular term length, ranging from six to 30 years.

Who Athena’s Fixed, Buffered & Income Annuities Work Best For

Imagine five different retirees, each with slightly different priorities.

1. Amplify 2.0
Diane, 56, is comfortable with market exposure and wants buffered downside protection. Amplify 2.0 is a RILA with a six-year term, selectable crediting periods, five index options, and buffer levels balancing growth and protection.

2. Amplify 2.0 NF
Eric, 60, wants the same buffered RILA structure with lower costs. Amplify 2.0 NF delivers the same five index options, buffers, and flexible terms with no product fee.

3. Athene MYG
Ruth, 71, wants a guaranteed-rate MYGA with emergency provisions and a return-of-premium option. Athene MYG offers three-, five-, or seven-year terms, a nursing home/terminal illness waiver, 10% annual penalty-free withdrawals, and optional Return of Premium.

4. Athene MaxRate
Conrad, 64, wants a fixed annuity he can focus on growth, income, or both. Athene MaxRate comes in three-, five-, or seven-year terms and lets him allocate toward the retirement outcome that matters most.

5. Athene Activate (SPIA)
Yvonne, 73, needs to turn a lump sum into guaranteed monthly income now. Athene Activate offers guaranteed lifetime payments and payout terms from six to 30 years, balancing income certainty with legacy flexibility.

Athene Pros & Cons

As with any company, working with Athene has pros and cons. 

Pros

One of the biggest perks of Athene is the volume of available products.

This is a significant departure from many competitors that focus on just a handful of products. Thanks to its many choices, Athene appeals to a broader range of customers, including everything from fixed index products to MYGAs and immediate annuities.

Athene is also financially stable. It holds an A+ Financial Strength Rating from AM Best and is backed by Apollo Holdings.

I’ve had many clients benefit from Athene’s strong MYGA rates as well as income product offerings. In 2023, they had some of the highest income available and they continue to be competitive with their A+ rankings and decent income annuities. They are a solid company to consider for any annuity purchase.

Owner and Advisor at Stevenson Retirement Solutions, John Stevenson

Cons

One major con of Athene is its low customer satisfaction track record. Its J.D. Power ranking falling below the industry average over several consecutive years is a concern, and Annuity.org spoke to an expert who said they do not like working with the company.

Athene’s age can also be a concern to some. While it is a financially stable company, there is no way around the fact that it is not even 20 years old.

When considering a multi-decade product, that may be a deciding factor for some.

About Athene

Athene was founded in 2009, and while it is certainly not a legacy company, its relative youth has not stopped it from growing into a giant in the annuity industry.

The company topped $36 billion in direct premiums sold in 2024 and holds strong ratings from every creditor.

It also has significant financial backing from its new parent company after being purchased by Apollo Global for $11 billion in 2021.

Many customers may feel more comfortable opting for one of the many annuity providers who have been in the space for decades, or over a century, due to that extra layer of security.

But Athene breaks the trend that comes with youth by being both a reliable and effective provider.